I
sometimes watch Jeopardy now, but
this show makes me see how little I know, especially in the areas of history
and geography.

*

While
serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Afghanistan, teaching English at Kabul
University, I’d go “home” to my cozy abode, a big house where I used only two
rooms, one for my bedroom and one for my kitchen.

NO
TV.

I
had an old cassette player with a few beat-up cassettes that I rarely listened
to.

But
NO iPod.No iPad.No Mp3.No cell phone.

NO
TV.

I
had the sweetest and clearest dreams I’ve ever had.

I
would wake up at all times during the night, reach over to my portable
typewriter and type my dreams.

I
misspelled a lot of words not only because I was half-asleep, but because I
couldn’t edit my spelling in the darkness!

I
did that the next day.

I
was often shocked at what I had written.

*

I
attended a university for five years.

NO
TV.

*

Lately,
I just read.

I’ve
read many novels by Dean Koontz the past few months.

This
guy has an imagination that doesn’t quit, and he’s such a good writer!

*

I
watch the NBA Playoffs.

I
watch the Super Bowl.

I
watch the Academy Awards.

But
that’s about it.

I’m
probably hurting the economy since I don’t watch all of those commercials.

IT’S
ABOUT RENEWABLE RESOURCES!*

Spanish Pipedream (AKA Blow Up Your TV) Lyrics

She was a level-headed dancer on the road to alcoholAnd I was just a soldier on my way to MontrealWell, she pressed her chest against meAbout the time the juke box brokeYeah, she gave me a peck on the back of the neckAnd these are the words she spoke

Blow up your TV, throw away your paperGo to the country, build you a homePlant a little garden, eat a lot of peachesTry an' find Jesus on your own

Well, I sat there at the table and I acted real naiveFor I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeveWell, she danced around the bar roomAnd she did the hoochy-cooYeah, she sang her song all night longTellin' me what to do

Blow up your TV, throw away your paperGo to the country, build you a homePlant a little garden, eat a lot of peachesTry an' find Jesus on your own

Well, I was young and hungryAnd about to leave that placeWhen just as I was leavin'Well she looked me in the face

I said, "You must know the answer"She said, "No but I'll give it a try"And to this very day we've been livin' our wayHere is the reason why

We blew up our TV, threw away our paperWent to the country, built us a homeHad a lot of children, fed 'em on peachesThey all found Jesus on their own